Sounding Rocket Basics
Auroral Sounding rockets are used to study
properties of auroral arcs by flying specially developed instrument
packages high into the ionosphere. These rockets typically have a series
of solid rocket motor stages and a payload section in the nosecone which
carries scientific instruments.
The UC Berkeley rocket is a Black Brant XII
model with 4 stages of solid fuel. Total height of rocket: 18.7 m (61 ft) Projected rocket apogee (maximum altitude):
1200 km.(745.5 mi) Projected rocket maximum ground range: 1100 km
(683 mi) Payload mass: 170 kg (375 lbs). Payload diameter: 0.45 m (1.5 ft) Flight time: 20 minutes.
The sounding rocket program is managed by the NASA
Wallops Flight Facility. Universities, government research centers,
and corporations use these rockets for a variety of scientific and
technological experiments.
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